Space Situation Awareness Operations

Abstract

Space Situational Awareness (SSA) is knowledge of all aspects of space related to operations. As the foundation for space control, SSA encompasses surveillance of all space objects and activities; detailed reconnaissance of specific space assets; monitoring space environmental conditions; monitoring cooperative space assets; gathering intelligence on adversary space operations; and conducting integrated command, control, communications, processing, analysis, dissemination, and archiving activities. This program element fields, upgrades, operationalizes, operates and maintains Air Force sensors and information integration capabilities within the SSA network while companion program element 1206425F, Space Situational Awareness Systems, develops new network sensors and improved information integration capabilities across the network. Activities funded in this program element (1203940F) focus on surveillance of objects in earth orbit to aid tasks including satellite tracking; space object identification; tracking and cataloging; satellite attack warning; notification of satellite flyovers to U.S. forces; space treaty monitoring; and technical intelligence gathering. The Sensor Life Extension Programs (SLEPs) project funds efforts to upgrade, operationalize and extend the life of operational SSA sensors, as needed. These SLEPs include, but are not limited to, programs which extend the serviceable life of assets and maintain critical capability by replacing aging and increasingly unsustainable components with modern and sustainable equipment. SLEPs may incorporate equipment which inherently includes technological advances resulting in enhanced or increased capabilities. In addition, the SLEP itself may be designed to increase capabilities not currently realized. The on-going Ground-based Electro Optics Deep Space Surveillance (GEODSS) Phase II is representative of sensor system upgrades in the SLEP project. As the need arises in the execution year, funds in this project may be used to begin sensor life extension programs on additional efforts. Global Sensor Watch Program provides an integrated SSA Tip and Cue capability that implements a survivable architecture which provides overlapping, assured, and viable surveillance options for executing event response (demonstrated by the SSA Ops Demo), multiple level security processing of SSA data and automated cross-sensor tipping and cueing around the globe. Beginning in FY17 this program element will begin fielding and sustaining the Joint Interagency Combined Space Operations Center (JICSpOC) infrastructure in response to US Strategic Command Joint Emergent Operational Need (ST-0006). The JICSpOC seeks to improve unity of effort and information sharing across the national security space community to effectively respond to potential future space threat events and will have the capability to develop, test, and integrate new space system tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) in support of both DoD and Intelligence Community operations. In FY18 this program element will continue a series of Ground Radar Upgrades designed to improve the sensitivity, search capability and CONOPS of existing SSA sensors to better support fire control timelines. This program is in Budget Activity 7, Operational System Development because this budget activity includes development efforts to upgrade systems that have been fielded or have received approval for full rate production and anticipate production funding in the current or subsequent fiscal year.

Document Details

• Document Type: R2 Budgetary Justification
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2018
• Source ID: 1203940F_7_3600_PB_2018
• Change Summary Explanation: FY 2016: Increase due to higher Air Force prioritization of SSA Operations activities due to emerging threats. FY 2017: $58.800M FY17 Request for Additional Appropriations (RAA) to address emergency warfighting readiness requirements FY 2018: $8.291M Increase due to higher Air Force prioritization of SSA Operations activities due to emerging threats. $0.09M inflation adjustment. $68.8m to support NSDC. Total increase of $77.181M.
• Service Agency Name: Air Force

Entities

Organizations

• United States Air Force

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Cyber
• Sensors
• Space
• Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Air Force
• Artificial Satellites
• Battle Management
• Command And Control
• Deep Space
• Earth Orbits
• Engineering
• Ground Based
• Intelligence Community
• National Security
• Situational Awareness
• Space Objects
• Space Situational Awareness
• Space Surveillance
• Space Systems
• Test And Evaluation
• United States Strategic Command

Readers

• Aerospace Engineering.
• Sensor Fusion and Tracking Systems.

Technology Areas

• Fully Networked C3
• Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control
• Space
• Space - Space Objects